Man overboard - today was my turn

[Hugh Foulis]

Took a chance to go for a sail today with a friend. To cut to the chase I went overboard, so: thank goodness for automatic inflation, I came up. There is no way on earth that even between us I was coming back inboard over the side of the boat. I was lucky that I could reach up and pull myself along the side of the boat to the bow, that it was tied off at the front to a dockside ladder, that the tide was full and not too far to climb. The reason for posting is this. I know Cumbria in february is not the time and place to choose for this type of event, but i was in the water no more than 3 minutes, by then I was on the ladder too cold to do much more. What got me out was my 14 year old son because I was determined he wasnt going to see anything worse than a wet Dad. Today everything added up in my direction. If anyone is of the opinion that MOB is going to be easy to sort out, I found out that it isnt..
Got changed, went for a short trip in the Solway, back to pub to round the day off. Barmaid commented this note is damp, " I dropped my wallet in the dock", " You were luck to get it back", "No, it was in my pocket at the time". She still had a puzzled luck on her face when I left two pints of Guinness later.
HF

 

[gardenshed]

Glad to read your post and not to be reading a local BBC report on a tradgedy. Thanks for sharing your experience.

 

[Sixpence]

good to hear nothing worse came of it , water and weather at this time of year are bloody cold so you're lucky you got out

 

[BrendanS]

It's a shocking experience isn't it. I've never gone in unplanned, but have done it in training for others, and never ceases to amaze me how difficult it is to get back onboard even with good kit.

 

[machurley22]

Thanks for sharing. There are a few others round these parts with the same T-shirt. Just coming up to the second anniversary of my own attempt at Walking on Water.

 

[Hugh Foulis]

The thing or me is that having read so much on these pages in respect of how difficult it is to get back on board, after 1 attempt I didnt waste any more effort trying, the dockside ladder was the only way out under my own steam. I am going absolutely nowhere, ever, without a rigged boarding ladder.
HF

 

[Dave99]

Yeah, a transom ladder is essential on cruising boats. Its a different story on a racing boat with 10 strong people on board. I have fallen in the water in the marina before but touch wood never at sea (apart from for swimming)

 

[pheonix]

would this have been in maryport by any chance.
good thing you fell over whilst at the dock.i once fell over well out of a tender when anchoring up on windimere just 15mts from pontoons at ambleside could not reboard the yacht or tender which was now turned turtle when finally ashore and tender pulled out just drained few ccs of fuel and retired for cup of tea when returning to tender managed to start the seagull having been submerged for at least 20 min. a testemant to the reputation of the good old british seagull
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[BrendanS]

If you are prepared for the shock and know what you are doing, you stand a chance of getting back up a ladder. My mobo has a ladder that is stiff (steel and can be brought down from in the water), not rope, and whilst not ideal, I can ascend. Slim and reasonably fit though. Trying to get onboard another boat relying on others? Not sure.

 

[MrCramp]

Good job you had a life jacket on. Many sailors would not have one on in a marina/harbour.

 

[webcraft]

[ QUOTE ]
a transom ladder is essential on cruising boats.

[/ QUOTE ] Getting onboard over the transom is dangerous on boats with a counter stern if there is much sea running - a boat on the head usually disappoints. Also, many cruising boats are so cluttered up with stuff at the stern (wind generators, solar panels, self steering, MOB gear etc) that getting on boad over the transom is nigh on impossible.

You need a plan to get someone on board over the side decks if necessary - halliard, winch, old sail, dedicated MOB device whatever - but more importantly you need to make sure no-one EVER falls off your boat. Clip on.

- Nick

 

[Major Catastrophe]

You lucky man and lucky it didn't go pear shaped.

I have posted this before - My MOB experience
which left me with a respect for the what happens once a man is in the water. Depite many of us trying to haul him onto a RIB, I was watching a man drowning.

 

[Lakesailor]

A young and fit guy went overboard on our moorings at the Steamboat Museum on Windermere. It was very choppy and he turned the tender over trying to get in. I was onshore talking to the lad's father at the time. I was going to run home for my oars and launch my tender to attempt a rescue. But it was winter and I reckoned on being at least 10 minutes. Luckily I had the warden's number in my mobile. He was there in about 3 minutes. (it's about a mile to their office).
They do provide a useful service.

Pleased to hear Hugh was OK.

 

[savageseadog]

Could have been a tragedy, in future make sure your wallet is safely inside the boat /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Peter_Chennell]

Thank you...

.. for sharing that with us.

Sometimes I think we are criticised for encouraging people to wear lifejackets - "nanny state" and "freedom to do what we want" are the common themes.

I'm really glad you escaped unscathed, and I hope others reflect on your story, and maybe think twice.

They are not called lifejackets for nothing.

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: Thank you...

No-one is denying that they save lives. It's the compulsion concept that sticks in peoples' throats.

 

[caol]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]


You need a plan to get someone on board over the side decks if necessary - halliard, winch, old sail, dedicated MOB device whatever - but more importantly you need to make sure no-one EVER falls off your boat. Clip on.

- Nick

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree

The stern is not a good place to retrieve a MOB except in calm water. In a seaway you will normally be stopped with wind/seas on the bow. The stern will be slamming up and down. Very dangerous for the person in the water at the stern. If you lie beam on the seas may tend to wash the person away from the stern.

Lying with bows into the wind and the seas running more or less fore and aft is less dangerous for the MOB and in some cases seas may actually help the lift. Also, it gives a much better working platform for the helpers - more space and more stable.

 

[cliffordpope]

Last year I swam out 100 yards to an anchored boat off a warm sunny beach. The water was pleasant and I had assumed I could easily put one foot on the bobstay and then swing up the anchor chain and grab the pulpit stanchion. I found it utterly impossibe.
The easiest way aboard was via the dinghy, which was tied alongside. One hand on a fender rope, then lifted my legs up and into the dinghy, then an inelegant scramble over the gunwhale, aided by the fender.

It was a warning. In cold water, weighed down with sodden clothing, tired - who knows?

 

[Hugh Foulis]

It was indeed in Maryport, (I've never really liked the place). Dont tell me you were watching?
With respect to Lakesailor, if you see an event, absolutely the first thing is to telephone for assistance so that someone is on the way. A number of people saw what happened and with everyone in the UK owning 3.9 mobile phones, not one dialled 999. I would have been grateful.
Thanks to all for your kind comments by the way.
My wallet is still drying on the radiator but now the Memsahib has found all the receipts for stuff that was well hidden in the garage, sheds etc, so this has turned out to be a bit of a tragedy.
HF

 

[Lakesailor]

Further to that if you are around the lakes and see something that needs attention like that a 999 call will get the Coastguard or warden depending which lake you are at. I used the local number as their phone is but 30 feet from the wet dock with their RIB.